The Effectiveness of Pro-Environmental Behavior Interventions: A MetaAnalysis

Human behavior is a key determinant of the state of the environment. Accordingly, pro\nenvironmental behavior (PEB) interventions have been developed in an attempt to improve \nenvironmental outcomes. The current meta-analysis synthesizes 368 effect sizes from 62 study \nreports that (a) tested one or more interventions aimed at improving PEB, (b) used an \nexperimental design, and (c) used actual (observed or inferred) behavioral outcomes, from 1980\n2019. PEB interventions had a significant positive effect on PEB (g = .55, medium effect). The \nsubstantial heterogeneity in effect sizes is not explained by age, type of intervention \n(informational or structural), or type of PEB (direct or indirect). Overall, this meta-analysis \nshows that PEB interventions can be an effective means in promoting PEB, and that effects are \nrobust to several participant and intervention characteristics. We identify challenges for the field \nof PEB intervention research and make recommendations to help the field move forward.